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Four minor boys gangrape 7-year-old girl in Karnataka

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rape-case

Kalburgi: A 7-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by four minor boys at Chidi Tanda here, police said.

All the boys were arrested on Sunday.

The incident took place on December 19. The boys, three of them studying in 6th standard and another in 8th standard, are relatives of the victim, police said.

The girl was residing with her grandmother while her parents stay in Mumbai.

Police said a complaint was registered on Saturday and the boys were arrested today under Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act.

(PTI)

BJP, Govt put onus on Oppn for anti-conversion law

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conversion-Aligarh

Chennai/Hyderabad: As a controversy over forced religious conversions by some Sangh Parivar outfits raged, the BJP and the Government today put the onus on the opposition parties for bringing an anti-conversion law for which they were ready.

BJP President Amit Shah said government is ready to bring an anti-conversion law and dared the “so-called secular” opposition parties to support it while Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said the opposition did not respond positively to this offer.

The comments by Shah and Naidu came a day after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat strongly defended the current controversial campaign of the Sangh Parivar and dared the opposition to support a law banning religious conversions.

Shah asserted that such incidents would not derail the BJP-led NDA Government from its development agenda.

“BJP has made its stand clear on conversions. And no one can derail the party (government) from its development agenda,” he told a press conference in Chennai.

He was replying to a question whether the campaign by some fringe groups on the conversion issue would affect the development agenda of the Narendra Modi Government.

Asked repeatedly about the involvement of RSS in the matter, Shah evaded a direct reply and said, “RSS is a nationalist organisation and I have no doubt over this.”

Opposition parties have been seeking to corner the government on the ‘ghar wapsi’ campaign in parts of North India and stalled proceedings in Rajya Sabha demanding a statement from Modi.

Shah, who is on a two-day visit to Chennai since yesterday, also said BJP’s stand on forced conversions was clear and the government was ready to bring a law to ban them.

“BJP is clear about its stand on forced conversions. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu has said in Parliament that the government is ready to bring in a law against forced conversions. Are the so called secular parties ready to support it?” he asked.

Shah declined to comment on Bhagwat’s remarks yesterday on trying to create a strong Hindu society.

Asked about Bhagwat’s comments in favour of bringing in a law against religious conversion, Naidu said the government would not bring any law against conversion without a larger consensus on it.

“BJP had already announced that it would be right to bring a law against conversion as per the prevailing situation in the country.

“But, that is possible only when there is general consensus. Without consensus, the government would not bring any such law. An advice is given. Everybody has got the right to give advice.

There is a right to write. You have the right to make commentary,” he told reporters in Hyderabad.

“If you feel the state government’s laws are not effective, there is need for an all-India law, the government has offered on the floor of Parliament, let’s go for an all-India law. The opposition did not respond positively,” he said.

Conversions have been happening in the country since pre-Independence era, he added.

(PTI)

Clear stand on conversions: Kejriwal to government

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Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government should clear its stand on religious conversions in the country, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal said here Saturday.

“First of all, the government should clear its stand. The prime minister should clear his stand on it,” Kejriwal said in response to his party’s stand on the issue.

He was speaking to reporters on the sideline of a programme at St. Stephen’s college.

“This party came to power on the promise of development but there has been none in the past six months,” he said.

“They talk about love jihad, religious conversion, and in Delhi, where there have been no riots in the past 35 years, they initiate one,” Kejriwal said.

“Had they told people that they would indulge in all this, people would have voted accordingly,” he said.

(IANS)

Karnataka withdraws anti-cow and cattle slaughter Bills

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Photo: The Hindu

Photo: The Hindu

Belagavi: The Karnataka Assembly today was adjourned sine die without transacting any business as BJP members staged a dharna demanding resignation of “tainted” ministers and rapping Congress government for withdrawing the stringent Cow Slaughter Prevention Bill.

As proceedings of the last day of the 10-day session began, BJP members staged dharna in the well shouting slogans against the government, accusing it of protecting “tainted” ministers and demanded their resignation for their alleged involvement in corruption.

BJP members led by Jagadish Shettar wanted discussion on corruption charges against Ministers Qamarul Islam, H S Mahadeva Prasad, and Dinesh Gundu Rao, under adjournment motion.

Speaker Kagodu Thimappa, who yesterday had rejected BJP’s demand saying the matter was in courts, did not pay heed to the protesting members and went about the business of the day.

BJP also slammed the Congress government for withdrawing the Cow Slaughter Prevention Bill, passed during its rule.

The Congress government last August had reversed the previous BJP government’s decision that had made the cow slaughter law stringent.

The government had decided to restore the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, 1964, that governs the slaughter of cattle in the state.

A Bill passed by both the Houses of the Legislature during BJP rule had widened the definition of cattle, made punishment harsher and increased the age of animal to be slaughtered but it did not receive the Presidential assent.

Congress, which was in the opposition then with Siddaramaiah as its leader, had opposed the legislation, saying it would affect beef-eaters and persons engaged in cattle transportation.

Countering BJP’s protest, Congress members raised slogans against them, saying the party was anti-North Karnataka and they were least interested in discussing problems pertaining to the region.

Despite the din, the Speaker proceeded with further business like tabling Lake Conservation and Development and Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) bills.

As the ruckus continued, Thimappa adjourned the House sine die.

(PTI)

Australia beat India by four wickets to win second Test

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Chris Rogers celebrates his fifty. © AFP

Chris Rogers celebrates his fifty. © AFP

Brisbane: Australia beat India by four wickets on the fourth day to win the second cricket Test at the Gabba here Saturday to take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

Australia took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series with a four-wicket win over India on the fourth day of the second Test at the Gabba here Saturday.

Chasing 128 for victory, the hosts were made to sweat but ultimately got over the finishing line, scoring 130 for six, leaving India rueing the opportunities they missed in the match. Things could have panned out very different had the visitors got rid of Australia’s tail in the first innings swiftly.

India’s dismal collapse on the morning of the fourth day also played a huge hand in the defeat.

But India still managed to make a match out of it, taking six Australian wickets and casting doubts in the opposition dressing room.

But a 63-run partnership for the third wicket between opener Chris Rogers (55) and captain Steven Smith (28) was enough to thwart the visitors.

But the poor form of middle-order batsman Shaun Marsh (17) and Brad Haddin (1), who threw their wickets away, would worry the Australian camp, as their untimely dismissal gave a window of hope to India for a dramatic late victory.

Pacers Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav bowled in the right areas in the second innings and were rewarded with three and two wickets respectively. Ishant was the pick of the bowlers, picking up two early wickets to put Australia in a spot of bother at tea.

But the damage was done earlier in the morning, when Australian bowlers, bowled with considerable venom to rattle the Indians.

Left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan (81) fought valiantly, even stringing together a 60-run partnership with Umesh Yadav (30) for the eighth wicket but it came too late in the day as the visitors slumped from a comfortable 71 for one to a dismal 157 for seven, leading by just 60 runs, at lunch.

They lost four wickets inside the first seven overs managing to score just 16 runs in the process and were never able to recover from that early disaster.

Their day began on the wrong note even before the slump, when overnight batsman Dhawan got injured on the wrist while batting at the nets and didn’t come out to bat.

Virat Kohli (1) joined overnight batsman Cheteshwar Pujara (43) in the mmiddle.

Kohli never seemed prepared for the big task and was very tentative, ultimately getting castled by Mitchell Johnson in his brief stay at the wicket.

Johnson was all over India after that; bowling with pace and menace on a pitch that was beginning to get a little difficult to bat on.

Inida produced several short partnerships after that, Pujara involved in each one of them, but never failed to consolidate on the initial start.

India lost wickets at regular intervals and on key moments of the contest to surrender the fate of the match.

Johnson was ably supported by other pacers – Shane Watson, the usually wayward Mitchell Starc and the first innings five-wicket hero debutant pacer Josh Hazlewood.

But India’s hopes of a late fightback through Ravichandran Ashwin (19) vapourised after the spinner was victim of another umpiring howler, given out caught for a presumed inside edge when the ball only managed to flick his pad on to wicketkeeper Bard Haddin’s gloves.

(IANS)

Karnataka: Renowned writer Siddalingaiah to chair Sahitya Sammelan

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Dr Siddalingaiah. Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash, The Hindu

Dr Siddalingaiah. Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash, The Hindu

Bengaluru: Renowned writer Siddalingaiah will chair the three-day 81st Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelan at Shravanabelagola from February 1, 2015. It is the first time that a Dalit writer will chair the sammelan.

President of Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP), Pundalika Halambi announced the name of the Siddalingaiah at a press conference held in the city on Friday. His name was suggested by the KSP Executive members at the meeting held on Friday.

“Prof. Siddalingaiah was chosen not only because he is prominent Dalit writer, but also because he is a writer par excellence in Kannada literature,” Mr. Halambi said.

Prof. Siddalingaiah is a leading Kannada poet and intellectual. He is one of the founders of the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti along with Devenur Mahadeva and B. Krishnappa. He played a significant role in the Dalit movement in Karnataka in the 1970s and 1980s.

His prominent works are Hole Madigara Haadu, Saviraru Nadigalu, Kappu Kadina Haadu, Meravanige (complete works), Panchama and Nelasama (plays), Grama Devathegalu (Ph.D. thesis). Ooru Keri , his autobiography, created a sensation in Kannada literature. Besides being a member of Legislative Council, he also headed the Kannada Development Authority and the Kannada Book Authority.

Meanwhile, Pundalika Halambi said the Parishat will not hold Sahitya Sammelana from now on in case the state government fails to impart primary education in Kannada medium mandatorily within the deadline of one year given by KSP.

Schools in Kashmir issue advisory after Peshawar attack

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Fearing Peshawar-like attack across disputed Himalayan state of Indian administered Kashmir, prominent schools here on Friday issued advisory, issuing guidelines to the students and parents on dealing with such situations.

Fearing Peshawar-like attack across disputed Himalayan state of Indian administered Kashmir, prominent schools here on Friday issued advisory, issuing guidelines to the students and parents on dealing with such situations.

Srinagar: Fearing Peshawar-like attack across Jammu & Kashmir, prominent schools here on Friday issued advisory, issuing guidelines to the students and parents on dealing with such situations.

“Security and safety are primary concerns for all of us. All the children have the right to live in a secure environment. Being exposed to violence can have a negative impact on children’s health, sense of safety, security and their feelings about the future,” Principal at prominent Srinagar based Delhi Public School, Athwajan, Kusam Warikoo said in a communique issued to guardians. Warikoo asked parents to respected some guidelines by for ensuring “better security”

“No child will be allowed to board the bus without their Identity Cards. No electronic gadgets will be allowed in the school, if confiscated it will not be returned,” she wrote to them (parents).

The school authorities said that the students will be allowed only to carry their study material and their lunch in the school bag.

Similar communication has been issued by many other Srinagar based schools working under the aegis of CBSE.

Meanwhile Indian home ministry on Friday issued an advisory to all states and Union territories reiterating CBSE’s 2010 guidelines to schools on dealing with “terror” situations.

The standard operating procedures (SOPs), apprise the school management on how to deal with kidnappings outside the school gate, random firing from road outside the school, armed intrusions followed by hostage taking and explosive objects and seek regular mock drills at schools to test their preparedness against possible strikes.

A set of guidelines issued to the prominent schools across India has urged the authorities to remain vigilant and also use telephone connectivity from the gate, CCTV systems along the boundary and inside, walkie-talkie communication between guards, alarm system and a centralized public announcement system are some of the other requirements to make the school secure.

The government has said that the in the event of kidnapping of children at the time of arrival/departure, the guards must rush children outside inside the school and close the gates, besides asking vehicles carrying children to leave the area. Mock drills should be conducted to ensure that a system is in place to set off the alarm, alert the police and respond to medical emergencies.

“If there is bomb scare, children should not be allowed to collect in one place without properly checking the area,” a guideline booklet book issued by Indian home ministry said.

‘Outraged camp’

Many Kashmiri leaders are outraged and strongly condemned the Peshawar incident wherein the Taliban stormed a military-run school in northwest Pakistan and gunned down over 145 people, most of them children, in one of the country’s deadliest attacks in recent weeks.

Huriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani while terming the attacks barbaric, said waging war against such elements is the duty of every Muslim.

Geelani said that there is no need to prove that those claiming to fight for Islam and are involved in such cowardly acts are in actual the biggest enemies of Islam and Muslims. He said that the attacks are inhuman and those involved in the incidents must be served the stern punishment.

Kashmir chief cleric and Huriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while condemning the killings of school children said that those involved in the cowardly acts cannot be the well-wishers of Islam and Pakistan. Huriyat Conference leader Shabir Ahmad Shah condemned the attack saying that the killings are tantamount of killing the whole humanity.

(With inputs from Authintmail)

Lakhvi booked under MPO; to remain in jail

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Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi

Islamabad: Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi will remain in jail for at least three more months with Pakistani authorities today slapping stringent provisions under public security against the key accused in the 2008 Mumbai attack, a day after a court gave him bail sparking outrage in India.

Lakhvi, 54, was detained for three months under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).

“Lakhvi was to be freed from Adiala Jail Rawalpindi today morning but the government detained him there for three months under the 16 MPO,” Prosecution chief Chaudhry Azhar told PTI, adding the Pakistan government had also informed India about this.

Lakhvi was granted bail by Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court yesterday due to lack of evidence against him.

The order of detention was handed over to Adiala Jail superintendent before Lakhvi’s counsel could show his bail order to jail authorities.

The prosecution chief further said that the government had decided in principle to
challenge the trial court’s decision in the high court.

“We have prepared an appeal against the ATC order and file it on coming Monday,” he said.

The decision to release Lakhvi has drawn sharp criticism from India and surprised many for its timing, just days after Taliban massacred 148 people, mostly schoolchildren, in Peshawar.

“The Nawaz Sharif government also got upset over the ATC decision as it had to face criticism from India on its policy on war on terror at the time when it is making its strong resolve to crush terror networks from its soil,” a source in interior ministry said.

He said the government had to take a prompt decision to detain Lakhvi before he was released from jail to avoid it from further embarrassment.

Lakhvi was granted bail a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif pledged to announce a “national plan” to tackle terrorism within a week, saying “this entire region” should be cleaned of terrorism.

“The matter was brought to the notice of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who immediately ordered detention of Lakhvi,” the source said.

The ATC Islamabad decision had surprised the prosecution lawyers who said still 15 or so witnesses were to be produced against the seven accused of the Mumbai terror attacks including Lakhvi before it granted him bail.

Since the trial began in 2009, the prosecution had produced 46 witnesses.

Lakhvi, Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum have been charged with planning, financing and executing the the Mumbai attacks on November 26, 2008 that left 166 people dead.

(PTI)

India 71/1 after Australia post 505 at stumps on day three

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Shikar

Brisbane: Steven Smith and Mitchell Johnson’s whirlwind partnership propelled Australia to a first innings score 505 runs, a lead of 97, but India made a solid start to their second innings, reaching 71 for one to trail by only 26 at stumps on day three of the second Test at the Gabba here Friday.

At stumps, India’s opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan and No.3 Cheteshwar Pujara were at the crease, on 26 and 15 respectively. First innings centurion Murali Vijay (27) was the Indian batsman to be dismissed.

Australia, though, will be happier of the two teams having fought back brilliantly from a precarious position to help themselves to a handy first innings lead.

Indian bowler’s ineptness at dismissing the tailenders once again cost them dear as Australia reached 505 from an uncomfortable position of 247 for six.

India have the worst average in Test cricket of giving away runs to tailenders. The visitors have given away 84 runs on an average to take the eighth, ninth and 10th wickets. Aned Friday’s performance gives credence to the fact.

Captain Steven Smith (133) and Mitchell Johnson (88) put together 148 runs for the seventh wicket as Australia smashed 282 runs in the first two sessions of play. To add to India’s woes No.8 batsman Mitchell Starc struck 52.

Starc combined first with Nathan Lyon (23) to add 56 runs for the ninth wicket and then with debutant Josh Hazlewood (not out 32) for a 51-run stand for the final wicket.

Pacers Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav took three wickets each while Varun Aaron and Ravichandran Ashwin shared four wickets among them.

Smith and Johnson, who counter-attacked with great fervour, though, laid the foundation of the fightback.

They carried on from where they left off at lunch and continued to be aggressive.

It finally took an Ishant over to get rid of the two. The Indian pacer first got Johnson with a wide and full delivery and then castled Smith with an sharp in-swinger.

Earlier, a blistering unbeaten 104-run partnership between captain Smith and Johnson took Australia to 351 for six at lunch.

The hosts seemed to be in a spot of bother when overnight batsman Mitchell Marsh (11) and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (6) were dismissed early in the session, where they scored 130 runs.

India began the session brightly. The visitors began with discipline, attacking the channel outside off, and were rewarded with two early wickets.

Ishant clean bowled Mitchell Marsh and then Varun removed vice-captain Haddin with a perfectly executed bouncer.

However, India switched their plan and bowled short deliveries indiscriminately and Johnson feasted on them to run away to a 37-ball half-century. The error in judgement proved costly as Johnson got much-needed confidence to put together a vital 148-run partnership with Smith that nullified India’s eraly supremacy and put the home team in a strong position.

Smith moved to his second century of the four-match series as well, as India’s 187-run lead at the start of the day shrunk to 57. From them on Australia didn’t falter.

(IANS)

Mehdi Masroor Biswas's police custody extended by 15 days

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Mehdi Masroor Biswas

Bengaluru: A court here Thursday extended the police custody of alleged Islamic State (IS) supporter Mehdi Masroor Biswas by 15 days for further interrogation on charges of waging war against a country which is at peace with India, police said.

“We produced Mehdi in the sessions court on expiry of his five-day custody to further interrogate him on his postings in the social media and Twitter handle (@ShamiWitness), as part of our investigation. We have secured his custody for another 15 days up to Jan 2,” city police commissioner M.N. Reddi told reporters.

Police registered a criminal case Dec 13 against Biswas under specific sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Information Technology (IT) Act for waging war against any Asiatic power in alliance or at peace with India.

A British news channel Dec 11 unmasked the city-based 24-year-old executive as a radical supporter of the IS through social media and Twitter.

“The investigation so far has revealed that Biswas is a propagandist of IS ideology and has been instrumental in influencing minds against our friendly countries and against whom the terror group is at war,” Reddi said.

Biswas, who hails from Gopalpur town in West Bengal’s Nadia district, is employed in the foods division of a Kolkata-based company in Bengaluru.

He confessed that he was operating the Twitter account after he got interested in the developments of the Levantine region comprising Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Gaza Strip, Egypt and Libya.

His parents – Mikhael Biswas and Mamtaz Begum – who arrived in Bengaluru Wednesday from Kolkata, were allowed to meet their son at an undisclosed place, as he has been in police custody since Dec 14.

“His parents also met me and shared their concerns over his alleged involvement with the IS terror activities through the social media. I have assured them that our investigation would be impartial, unbiased and objective,” Reddi said.

(IANS)

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